Brazil

Jaguar's Trail: Pantanal to Amazon 11-Day

2019: $6,398 Group Departures

6 person minimum

2019: $6,798 Go On Your Own

2 person minimum

Both require domestic flights ~$898 p/p

Prices based on exchange rate as of July 30, 2018.

Exchange rates are subject to change without notice, and additional currency equalization fees may be required at the time Wild Planet pays for local services, which may occur up until 30 days prior to departure – even if you have already made your final payment.

A Little More Info

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
Single travelers staying in a room by themselves will be charged this additional single supplement fee, as all of our regular prices are otherwise based on double occupancy.

SINGLE SHARE OPTIONS (if available)
If you are traveling alone and wish to share a room, we will make every effort to find you a roommate of the same gender, in which case you will not have to pay the single supplement fee. The single supplement will be charged until we are able to confirm a roommate for you. If we are able to match you with a roommate, the single supplement will be refunded. In the event that we cannot find a share for you, you will be required to pay the single supplement fee.

New: Click the Singles Find a Share' icon below or check our "Community" page to connect with other single travelers looking to share.

DAY 7Pantanal to the Amazon Transition from the world's largest wetlands to its largest rainforest

DAY 8-10Amazon - Cristalino Jungle Lodge

DAY 11Cristalino / Alta Floresta / Cuiaba / USA

Extension: Iguassu Falls

See one of the most spectacular waterfalls on earth from parks on both the Brazilian and Argentine sides. Enjoy the Macuco safari by boat, and close up views of Devil's Throat and the main and upper cataracts.

Extension: Amazon River Cruises

Our fleet of Amazon cruises allows you to immerse yourself in the Amazon, surrounded by the rainforest as you explore "Meeting of the Waters", Anavilhanas National Park and more. See pink dolphins, meet natives and explore the world's greatest river and rainforest.

Jaguar's Trail: Pantanal to Amazon 11-Day

A shorter version of our most value-packed Brazil wildlife eco-tour featuring wildlife safaris by jeep, boat and foot in 2 different regions of the Pantanal and a remote area of the Amazon. Special excursions to see jaguars (averaging 1.5 jaguars/day), anacondas, hyacinth macaws, giant otters and giant anteater in the Pantanal, coupled with a stay at one of the world's best eco-lodges in the Amazon, make for a wildlife experience like no other:. More value than any other professional wildlife tour.. Expert Local Naturalist Guides Even biologists in some places.. Authentic "Fazenda" Pantanal Ranches & Amazon Rainforest Lodges Including lodges named "Best in Brazil" by National Geographic Traveler.. Specifically designed to optimize the chances of seeing more wildlife by visiting a variety of different eco-systems, with no commercial "filler" activities.

Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1-2 Cuiaba / Caceres

Upon arrival in Cuiaba overnight and transfer to Caceres by air-conditioned vehicle the next morning. Enjoy a wildlife safari by boat to our Paraguay riverside lodge. After dinner, night safari for nocturnal animals.

DAY 3-4 Taiama Ecological Reserve: Jaguar Safari

Wild Planet Adventures Exclusive!

Jaguar Photo Safari Full-day boat safaris to photograph jaguars. This is one of the best wildlife sanctuaries in Brazil, with the highest density of jaguars in the world. Jaguars frequently hunt caimans along the riverbanks and are often seen at very close range for extended periods. We average 1.5 jaguars per day, and sometimes see as many as 7!

Breakfast and checkout. This morning we drive north to the Piuval lodge. This area features many different landscapes that support a wide variety of biodiversity. Enjoy safaris by jeep and foot. We will stop on our way to photograph all kind of wildlife. We will arrive there for lunch time. After our midday break, we go horseback riding through different landscapes; while at night we go on a night safari in search of elusive nocturnal animals like Ocelot, Puma, Tapir, Giant Anteater, Tamandua, Crab-eating Raccoon, Pottoos, and Owls.

Morning activity (overland safari or forestwalk). Breakfast and checkout. We will arrive at our lodge just before lunch time. Check-in the Pouso Alegre lodge. Walk in the surroung forest of the lodge. Lunch followed by a midday break. In the afternoon, we go for an overland safari in search for Anteaters, Tapirs, Quatis and many more.

Witness the fascinating transition of eco-systems from the world's largest wetlands to the world's largest rainforest. After an early morning excursion, transfer back to Cuiaba in time for your flight to Alta Floresta, then continue deep into the Amazon to Cristalino Jungle Lodge.

DAY 8-11 Amazon: Cristalino Jungle Lodge

This is a join-in segment with a maximum of 8 total travelers on any departure (even for private, go-on-your-own departures).

Hike with naturalist guides to a canopy tower where you can see the rainforest canopy from above, and look for monkeys, macaws and other birds. Later choose to explore the Teles Pires Island, where colorful parakeets, parrots, macaws and wood storks roost. Or hike to a rustic treehouse and nearby clay lick frequented by large mammals such as Brazilian tapir, collared & white-lipped peccaries, giant anteater and tamandua. Or boat upriver and hike amongst enormous Brazil nut trees.

Wildlife viewing in the Amazon differs from what you will experience in the Pantanal as the thicker cover, combined with less habituated animals, creates a true expeditionary atmosphere where your guides will help you to discover the hidden diversity of plants and animals for which the Amazon is famed.

DAY 9 Amazon: Cristalino Jungle Lodge

Wild Planet Adventures Exclusive!

Today and tomorrow enjoy Wild Planet Adventures' special excursions to see some of the region's many primates and endemic species. Hike Caja Trail for primates who fed on the caja fruit, and Scenery Trail, one of the most beautiful in the reserve with amazing views and many bromeliads, heliconias, and orchids.

DAY 10 Amazon: Cristalino Jungle Lodge

Magnificent canoeing on the Cristalino River through the Amazon rainforest. The crystalline river water is the life-blood for many birds and animals. Enjoy hiking throughout native cocoa trees, which attract many birds as well as anteaters, primates, and armadillos. Night hike in search of the very rare and elusive feline night monkey, also called "owl monkey."

DAY 11 Amazon / Alta Floresta / Cuiaba / USA

Early hike on Tapiri Trail to see the white-whiskered spider monkey. Transfer to Alta Floresta in time for your flight back to Cuiaba. Upon arrival transfer to your flight back to USA, or choose to overnight in Rio (at extra cost) or visit the breathtaking Iguassu Falls.

EXTENSIONS

Iguassu Falls

See one of the most spectacular waterfalls on earth from parks on both the Brazilian and Argentine sides. Enjoy the Macuco safari by boat, and close up views of Devil's Throat and the main and upper cataracts.

Amazon River Cruises

Our fleet of Amazon cruises allows you to emerse yourself in the Amazon, surrounded by the rainforest as you explore "Meeting of the Waters", Anavilhanas National Park and more. See pink dolphins, meet natives and explore the world's greatest river and rainforest.

Brazil Lodging

Authentic Brazilian Fazendas & Amazon Rainforest Lodge

Our "On the Jaguar's Trail; Pantanal to the Amazon" wildlife safari specializes in authentic Brazilian "Fazendas" in the Pantanal, and award-winning, one-of-a-kind rainforest and jungle lodges in the Amazon. The fazendas in the Pantanal are operating cattle ranches who have turned to eco-tourism as their vast properties offer exclusive access to a wide variety of wildlife habitat. In the Amazon we feature a choice of a lodge named "Best in Brazil" by National Geographic Traveler, or a variety of Amazon cruises to meet your budget. Great care has gone into our selection of lodging partners, with particular emphasis on quality accommodations that offer outstanding wildlife viewing opportunities. These authentic lodges offer all the comforts of home, including hot & cold water, flush toilets, comfortable beds and delicious home cooked meals.

CUIABA

Gran Odara

A rooftop pool, restaurant, spa services and modern gym are featured at the luxurious Gran Odara. It is 0.6 miles from Goiabeiras Shopping Mall and Mãe Bonifácia Park. Wi-Fi is free.
With fine wooden fittings, rooms are all equipped with air conditioning, an LCD TV with satellite channels, safe and minibar. Room service is available 24 hours a day.

Avec Restaurant serves French and regional cuisine, as well as a rich buffet breakfast with fresh fruits, hot and cold items. Fine cocktails can be ordered from the elegant bar.

Guests at the 5-star Hotel Gran Odara may also enjoy massages, sauna sessions or beauty treatments.

TAIAMA RESERVE

Pousada Baiazinha

Our base to access the remote Taiama Ecological Preserve for our jaguar safaris, Pousada Baiazinha is located on the Paraguay river, with quality rooms and prime access to this wildlife-rich ecosystem.

MID-PANTANAL

Fazenda Pouso Alegre

A traditional Pantanal cattle farm with 11,000 hectares and great diversity of preserved Pantanal landscapes without introduced species. Pousada Alegre is the perfect base for our land safaris, with large fields of native grass that flood seasonally, several kinds of forest, and both permanent and temporary water bodies. This ecosystem is visited by hyacinth macaws, tapirs, anteaters, and more. While this lodge offers simple accommodations and amenities, it does offer some of the best wildlife viewing in all the Pantanal.

CRISTALINO PRIVATE RESERVE

Cristalino Jungle Lodge

Cristalino Lodge was named one of the "Best Hotels in Brazil" by National Geographic Traveler, combining authentic experiences, sustainability ethic, and a strong community involvement. The lodge has a Private Reserve with more than 29,652 acres (46 square miles), an area two times larger than Manhattan island. This pristine forest reserve is home to a large variety of habitats and natural communities, allowing you to see wildlife in its natural state of being. The pristine Cristalino River, with clean and beautiful water, lies just in front of the lodge.

This region is recognized as an important area of the Amazon in terms of biodiversity. The exceptional number of species, even for the Amazonian standards, makes this one of the richest places in the Amazon for observing birds, mammals, butterflies and orchids in a Primary Forest environment. There is a great variety of endemic species (i.e. that only inhabit this particular region). The lodge forest reserve is located just beyond the borders of the Cristalino State Park, an extremely important conservation area with 456,800 acres. The park is connected to other protected areas forming a huge conservation corridor in the Southern Amazon.

Cristalino Lodge is at the forefront of sustainable eco-lodge practices including composting of all organic disposal; recycling of all non-organic material; solar water heating for all rooms; effluent grey-water treatment with organic system; effluent black-water treatment with filters and evapo-transpiration system; hydro-kinetic energy generator, which provides a small amount of power from the river; smart architecture buildings with wide windows and roof air-escapes, providing a better air circulation inside the rooms; use of biodegradable cleaning products; staff training programs related to the rational use of resources; use of canoes instead of motor boats when possible; use of organic fruits and vegetables when available; trail limits with a maximum of 8 people per guide; low impact of only 20 rooms.

Brazil Activities

At a Glance

We know you've chosen to travel with us for our wildlife emphasis, so we've included a wide variety of adventure activities designed to educate, inspire, and bring out the wonder in you. All of our activities are flexibly designed to accommodate different skill levels and interests, while exposing you to a variety of unique eco-systems in order to see the most amount of wildlife. And did we mention fun?

Adventure activities in 2 distinct regions of the Pantanal and a remote area of the Amazon expose you to more natural wonder, more ecosystems - and more wildlife - than any other conventional tour.

Exclusive Jaguar Photo Safari

Special expedition to search for Anacondas in the Pantanal Wetlands

Safari by horseback, jeep, foot and boat in 2 different regions of the Pantanal

Hike the Amazon Rainforest for endemic species

View the Amazon from atop a canopy tower

Kayak or canoe the Cristalino River in the Amazon

Option to interact with natives in the Amazon

Exclusive Wildlife Activities

Jaguar Photo Safari

Photograph jaguars as they hunt caiman by the riverside - a Wild Planet Adventures Exclusive!

Search for Anacondas in the Pantanal Wetlands

Track anacondas on the wetlands between Taiama Ecological Preserve and our lodge, an area also frequented by hyacinth macaws - a Wild Planet Adventures Exclusive!

Hike the Amazon Rainforest for Endemic Species

Special excursions to see endemic species, including the endemic White-whiskered Spider Monkey, the Spix's Red-handed Howler Monkey monkey, and nocturnal hike for a chance to see the very rare and elusive owl-faced Feline Night-monkey.

Other Activities

Safari by Horseback, Jeep, Foot & Boat

In three distinct regions to for up-close wildlife encounters with jaguars, giant otters, tapirs and more.

View the Amazon from Atop a Canopy Tower

Hike with expert naturalist guides to a canopy tower where you can see the rainforest canopy from above, and look for monkeys, macaws and other birds.

Kayak or Canoe the Cristalino River in the Amazon

Magnificent boating through the Amazon rainforest. The crystalline river water is the life-blood for many birds and animals.

Cultural Interaction

Option to interact with natives in the Amazon

Brazil Wildlife

Prolific Sightings

Wild Planet's wildlife eco-tours and safaris are designed for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. We take care to seek out wildlife that is rare, off the beaten path, and in greater numbers than you will see on conventional tours. Our expert naturalist and biologist guides will educate you in the field so your experience is intimate and unparalleled. Still, wildlife viewing can unpredictable and requires patience and sensory awareness.

Rare or Endangered Possible Sightings

Brazil Guides

Stephen Boddington

Stephen Boddington started watching the birds in his parents' garden at the age of 5 and hasn't stopped since! Originally from England, he lived in France, Germany, and the Netherlands before settling in Belgium, where he regularly guides visiting birdwatchers, and has also led birdwalks in California, Lapland, and Costa Rica.He has traveled extensively throughout Europe, with a European list of 400 species, and has taken part in raptor migration surveys in both Israel and Mexico. He is also interested in butterflies and dragonflies, and has recently taken up digital photography. Stephen speaks five languages and is no happier than when he is able to share his passion and knowledge with others, helping them to enjoy birds and the natural world in general.

Joelson Toledo

Naturalist Guide
Joelson has extensive experience guiding in the Peruvian Amazon and the Pantanal in Brazil, including many important conservation projects. While in Peru, he worked as a field assistant for Project Guacamayo Tambopata National Reserve, where he led groups monitoring macaw nests. There he observed the behavior between mothers and pups with micro cameras inside the nest.

As the leading field guide for the Caiman Ecological Refuge, Joelson was responsible for groups of up to 16 people specializing in birdwatching and horses. During this time he also used traps to capture herpetofauna with identification chips, made a chemical analysis of the water supply, and monitored the fish species in the Pantanal Rio Negro area.

Mota

Jaguar Tracker
Mota was born in Caceres, a small city along the Paraguay River about 220 km from Cuiaba. He grew up in the surrounding Pantanal region and learned much of the Pantanal water ways and its wildlife from his father. Because of his experience on the water he is an expert jaguar spotter. His specialty is guiding for wildlife photographers as he knows the best spots and angles for beautiful photos. Mota is an expert at handling the boats and approaching jaguars with minimal disturbance. He takes excellent care of all our travelers on our expeditions and contributes greatly to the quality of the tour.

Douglas Braga Rocha

Biologist & Pantanal Tour Guide
Douglas is a Brazilian naturalist with a degree in Biology from the State University in Rio de Janeiro, and a Masters Degree in Ecology and Conservation at Federal University of Mato Grosso. He started guiding nature trips in the Chapada dos Guimaraes before guiding nature & wildlife tours throughout the diverse Pantanal eco-systems. He is an expert in the Pantanal's many biodiversity hot spots. As a guide he enjoys sharing with our guests his knowledge of Pantanal's natural history, ecology, wildlife and culture. His detailed knowledge of Brazil economics, politics and history are remarkable and he speaks excellent English.

Karen Arine Souza

Ecologist & Pantanal Tour Guide
Karen is native of Minas Gerais, Brazil, and has a degree in Ecology at the UNI BH (Centro Universitario de Belo Horizonte). She is a naturalist tour guide, and enjoys sharing with our guests her knowledge of the Pantanal's natural history, ecology, wildlife and culture. Karen studied English for two years in London and has excellent English. When not guiding, Karen participates in scouting trips & expeditions to expand her knowledge of the Pantanal.

Brazil Departures

Brazil-Jaguar's Trail: Pantanal to Amazon 11-Day

Apr 08, 2019 - Apr 18, 2019

11-days

$6,398

May 06, 2019 - May 16, 2019

11-days

$6,398

Jun 24, 2019 - Jul 04, 2019

11-days

$6,398

Jul 08, 2019 - Jul 18, 2019

11-days

$6,398

Aug 05, 2019 - Aug 15, 2019

11-days

$6,398

Aug 12, 2019 - Aug 22, 2019

11-days

$6,398

Aug 26, 2019 - Sep 05, 2019

11-days

$6,398

Sep 09, 2019 - Sep 19, 2019

11-days

$6,398

Sep 23, 2019 - Oct 03, 2019

11-days

$6,398

Oct 07, 2019 - Oct 17, 2019

11-days

$6,398

Oct 21, 2019 - Oct 31, 2019

11-days

$6,398

*Pricing for the above scheduled group departure dates are subject to the minimum numbers of travelers for scheduled departures, which is indicated in the “Pricing Details” link at the top of this page. Any departure — whether scheduled or private — with less than the minimum group size will still be guaranteed to depart, but at the private “go-on-your-own” rates which require a minimum of only 2 travelers. We will also extend the lower group rate even for private departures not listed above, as long as the minimum group size is met.6,

Brazil FAQ

Brazil Facts for Visitors

Location

Brazil is located in Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean.

Size

Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world, with a total of 8,514,877 sq km

Language

The official and most widely spoken language in Brazil is Portuguese. Other languages include Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, English, and a large number of minor Amerindian languages.

Remote & Non-Commercial Destinations - Our Jaguar Photo Safari is in the virtually unknown Taiama Ecological Station, a protected area that is not open to the public. No traveler is allowed on the reserve, but we can circumnavigate it by boat. We average 1.5 jaguar sightings per day here.

Sustainable & Responsible Jaguar Safaris - Our expert biologist & naturalist guides use strict protocols: we limit jaguar sightings to one small boat, for a limited time, using authentic radio-free tracking, and have access to a crowd-free habitat that requires special logistics to access.

Remote & Non-Commercial Destinations - Our Jaguar Photo Safari is in the virtually unknown Taiama Ecological Station, a protected area that is not open to the public. No traveler is allowed on the reserve, but we can circumnavigate it by boat. We average 1.5 jaguar sightings per day here.

Sustainable & Responsible Jaguar Safaris - Our expert biologist & naturalist guides use strict protocols: we limit jaguar sightings to one small boat, for a limited time, using authentic radio-free tracking, and have access to a crowd-free habitat that requires special logistics to access.